India using chemical arms against Kashmiris in IHK: AJK PM

ISLAMABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan Wednesday accused India of using chemical weapons in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK).

He maintained, “There is evidence that Indian forces deployed in Kashmir had been using weapons that contain chemical agents in Kashmir.” This he revealed during his visit to the office of All Parties Hurriyat Conference here. “We demand an independent investigation into the alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians in Indian Held Kashmir and gross violation of human rights of Kashmiri people by Indian forces,” Haider emphasised. He alleged that use of chemical weapons is worst kind of persecution that put the lives of entire population in danger. He paid glowing tributes to APHC leaders, including Yasin Malik, Syed Ali Shah Gillani, Shabir Ahmad Shah and others and said Kashmiri leaders had lived most of their lives languishing in jails, fighting for the UN-mandated right to self-determination.

AJK premier called the ongoing Kashmiri people’s struggle as ‘struggle to complete Pakistan’. He made it clear India could not lessen Kashmiris’ love for Pakistan with coercion and oppression. He held out an assurance to the Hurriyat leadership that reinforcing Kashmir liberation struggle would remain the top priority of AJK government and all available resources would be utilised for this purpose. “The government in the base camp of Kashmir liberation struggle would consult Hurriyat leaders in matters relating to Kashmir freedom movement. And, the problems being faced by the refugees from occupied part of Kashmir would be solved on priority basis,” he said.

Earlier, speaking during a TV interview after visiting the Line of Control (LoC), AJK PM Haider said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was trying to increase his vote bank by shedding the blood of innocent Kashmiri people. He alleged the BJP government of whipping up ‘jingoistic frenzy’ to get political mileage in India.